Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity | Video on TED.com
For the past few years, the emphasis, time and energy has been focused almost entirely on upgrading the teaching that goes on in elementary, middle and secondary schools. What about how we teach our college and university students? Does it matter that we are sending out students into the work force with inadequate skills; particularly in those areas we need it most. The majority of college students definitely use computers with great facility, they are digital natives - but take a closer look and what we begin to note the limited the range of how they use computers. They use texting instead of email, often in lieu of personal communication, youtube and music videos reign supreme. The bigger, more fundamental question is what are college and university teachers doing to inspire, support and make use of digital tools in their classrooms. Recently, I was teaching at a local college and what became evident is this: college teachers are not using digital tools in their teaching. They still give students the same kind of work to complete, essays and research papers with little consideration for differentiated instruction and digital literacy. It is time that we begin focusing on what and how we are teaching students not only at the elementary and secondary levels, but college and university as well. In my classes, I have students watch some of the most inspiring speakers and presenters from Tedtalks. I want to facilitate excellence, creativity, problem solving and helping students find their own passion and mission in life.
This is one video my students watch, blog on in our class forum and a question I ask throughout my teaching - am I opening more doors than closing?
For the past few years, the emphasis, time and energy has been focused almost entirely on upgrading the teaching that goes on in elementary, middle and secondary schools. What about how we teach our college and university students? Does it matter that we are sending out students into the work force with inadequate skills; particularly in those areas we need it most. The majority of college students definitely use computers with great facility, they are digital natives - but take a closer look and what we begin to note the limited the range of how they use computers. They use texting instead of email, often in lieu of personal communication, youtube and music videos reign supreme. The bigger, more fundamental question is what are college and university teachers doing to inspire, support and make use of digital tools in their classrooms. Recently, I was teaching at a local college and what became evident is this: college teachers are not using digital tools in their teaching. They still give students the same kind of work to complete, essays and research papers with little consideration for differentiated instruction and digital literacy. It is time that we begin focusing on what and how we are teaching students not only at the elementary and secondary levels, but college and university as well. In my classes, I have students watch some of the most inspiring speakers and presenters from Tedtalks. I want to facilitate excellence, creativity, problem solving and helping students find their own passion and mission in life.
This is one video my students watch, blog on in our class forum and a question I ask throughout my teaching - am I opening more doors than closing?
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